Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday to express condolences over his brother's death, adding that he hoped to resume the peace process as soon as possible.

          The two leaders last spoke more than a month ago, when Netanyahu called Abbas to thank him for the Palestinian Authority's assistance in quelling the devastating Carmel wildfire.

          Netanyahu and Abbas have not met face to face since September 15, nine days before the end of Israel's temporary construction freeze in the West Bank, when the Palestinians declared that they would halt contact pending renewal of the moratorium.

          Abbas cut short a trip to Tunisia on Monday and returned home following the death of his older brother, Atta Rida Shehada Abbas, in Damascus.  Abbas was to receive mourners at his Ramallah office on Wednesday.